A recent wedding blog post had me chuckling – fondly! – at the mention of an awkward shuffle in lieu of a flashy, choreographed or extrovert first dance. I’d be an awkward shuffler, and quite happily. But I’d still be nervous as the centre of attention. So when today’s guest blogger Amy got in touch with her secrets of a confident first dance, I was so pleased. I’m sure plenty of you will find these tips inspiring and useful. Enjoy…

Photo credit Phil Bourne www.e-motionimages.co.uk

The secrets of a confident first dance

As with most things in life, a little confidence goes a long way, but if the thought of your first dance fills you with dread, finding your confidence is easier said than done.

Why is a first dance so nerve-wracking?

Dancing badly, being embarrassed and feeling a fool are all typical concerns. It’s completely understandable seeing as there will be eyes staring, cameras poised, camcorders at the ready and the possibility of an unwelcome YouTube appearance…. See more...

Oops… I have of course been saving up great wedding blog posts for you over the last couple of weeks, but with one thing and another I’ve been sat on my little list and haven’t gotten around to sharing my best wedding blogs with you! So sorry…

This glorious festival wedding will be on English Wedding Blog soon – I couldn’t resist, it’s beautiful and so much fun! In the meantime, click the image to see more on Tracy Morter’s wedding photography blog

Of course the good news is I’m here now, and I have some gorgeous real weddings, creative ideas and discussions to share with you. Here’s my best of the wedding blogs for the last couple of weeks or so: See more...

Good morning! A special hello to everyone who’s popped back (although not literally popped, because I was careful with you) after reading yesterday’s oh-so-tempting blog post about Bev and Nath’s Walcot Hall wedding! Today as promised I can share all the fabulous details of their day as well as some wonderfully spontaneous, romantic, beautiful moments from the wedding reception.

Bev told me the DIY was hard work but it meant they had the most personalised wedding. She said there was nothing they would have changed. Nath spent many a weekend stamping quotes from films and songs on cards that were placed around the venue, and this loveliest of couples took the time to write a small personal message on the back of each person’s place setting tag – it’s one of the lovely touches that prove to me that details on a wedding day can mean so much to people. The trick is to find a balance – and Bev and Nath did it perfectly! See more...

Hello there! What do I have for you this morning… let’s see. A romantic, DIY-filled, inspiring wedding with hydrangeas, home baking, wildflowers… but I am only going to show you half of Bev and Nath’s incredible Walcot Hall wedding, because there’s far too much for one day. I don’t want any of you lovely blog readers to pop, after all. Or me!

So today I’m going to share some beautiful things with you, and then tomorrow I’m going to share even more. We’re talking hydrangea bouquets in a rainbow of colours, a gorgeous UK bride and groom, a quirky dream wedding venue, a cathedral length veil and a wedding dress by Romantica of Devon. Bev and Nath’s wedding also features individual bridesmaid styles, tons of ideas for reception decor (coming up tomorrow!) and the most sublimely romantic wedding photography…

Photographer Emma B says she was “in wedding heaven” with Bev and Nath at Walcot Hall – and I can really see why this gorgeous day made such an impression. I know you’ll love it too. Remember to come back tomorrow for more! See more...

As Tom’s voice breaks at the very end of this moving, magical and emotional wedding film, you’ll cry. I did. And then the second time I watched it I cried again. This is love as the most pure and all-encompassing emotion two people can feel. Enjoy the beautiful wedding film by Allora Visuals.

Matt and Tom were married at The Grove in Hertfordshire. The wedding film includes special moments from their wedding weekend, from heartfelt words during their marriage ceremony through to magical lighting, exquisite details (the wedding cake is out of this world!) to the most in love and romantic couple you could imagine.

Your heart will melt a little bit. But this romantic wedding film will stay in your heart for the rest of the day and keep you smiling. It’s just so beautiful!

Hello my lovely readers! I hope you’re having a lovely week so far. I am handing over the reins of English Wedding Blog this morning, to my lovely sponsors over at Queens & Bowl. Kate is offering you a fabulous 15% discount this morning (and until the 20th of December), so it’s a perfect time to discover these gorgeous new vintage wedding accessories and save some pennies too! Enjoy! Claire x

Before I start, can I just say a huge thank you to Richard and Katey for choosing Queens & Bowl to provide a handmade vintage headpiece to top off Katey’s outfit. You can read more and see all the pics from their amazing wedding day right here.

Now, although I’m very proud of the collection of vintage wedding accessories, jewellery and shoes I’ve put together at Queens & Bowl, I’m always on the lookout for the latest gorgeous pieces from designers to add to my range. See more...

Today I have special news for Jenny Packham wedding dress fans – there’s a fabulous event coming up in Manchester at the end of this month which you mustn’t miss! This end of line sale includes bridal wear as well as eveningwear, accessories and lingerie. It’s a chance to find your dream wedding dress at a dream price.

The end of line sale in Manchester will be held at The Midland Hotel on Peter Street, and lasts all day from 8am. I’d advise making an early appearance if you can, especially if you’re looking for a wedding dress!

I wish I could stand here in front of you and introduce Emma and Paul’s wedding with a showmaster’s flourish. They deserve your full attention – and the images (by Shutterleaf Photography) of their Cumbria wedding day are more than amazing as well.

I honestly don’t know where to begin – the sunlight flooding through the windows of Broadoaks Country House Hotel near Coniston will take your breath away. Emma’s red wedding dress from Coast is simply stunning (I knew I recognised it… it got a mention at the end of this blog post from February where I claimed this dress as Mine! Revisiting this blog post made me smile).

But more than anything else, Paul and Emma’s wedding report will stir the romance in every single one of you. It did for me: a couple so much in love they spent their day holding back happy tears, whose advice for you all is to: See more...

Wedding photographers, can you help me? I’m planning some wedding blog features with a difference, taking my focus away from the details and looking at what really makes a wedding.

Photo credit Phil Drinkwater. Click to see the full wedding blog

I want to share 10 favourite wedding images from each of these categories:

Loving looks

Aisle moments

First dances

Wedding speeches

Sunshine and smiles

Emotional grooms

Timeless brides

English wedding venues

Friendship

Happiest brides

Families

Forever memories

The series of blog posts will be called “Focus on…” and I’m looking forward to sharing beautiful wedding photography and thoughtful moments with my lovely English Wedding Blog readers.

I really need your help in submitting images and spreading the word about these features! Please send images to info@english-wedding.com with the subject line Focus on. I’ll be collecting images for a couple of weeks from today. See more...

Oh, wow. Nothing sets my heart a-flutter like innovative wedding stationery and design. Today I’m going to show you something pretty special – something I love. Something I wish I could do! It’s black. It’s art-deco. It’s striking and delicious and all with a sense of elegance… just look at this!

Wedding seating plan by WBD Designer Wedding Stationery

The theme for Louise and Ben’s wedding table plan and stationery was Las Vegas (in case you hadn’t spotted it!) and their tables were named after Vegas casinos, with each one incorporating a logo illustration as table names.

Matching wedding stationery

Wendy is a talented and creative designer whose talents will turn as deftly to damask wedding stationery patterns, swirls and loops and flourishing, as they did to creating Ben and Louise’s reception stationery. Wendy designed and made table name cards, art deco wedding invitations (above – just look at that gorgeous and intricate detailing!) and menus (below) for their wedding reception.I hope you love these. There’s more I can say – the tiny details are what make me catch my breath, and I love the typography, the bold art deco style lines and impactful borders. Wendy didn’t show me the stationery with a view to sharing it on English Wedding Blog, I had to ask! It took a while – at first all I could say was, “God, I do love it!!” See more...

I was still a little surprised to find I have 823 pins and 57 Pinterest boards from creative weddings through to wedding cakes, reception ideas and wedding calligraphy. So I thought I’d share some of my favourites with you!

I have 100 pins on my Creative Weddings board… a nice round number but even as I type this blog post I’m sneaking off to Pinterest to find more! It’s just so easy… I love that I can switch my brain off and just indulge in pretty pictures for hours… naughty but nice!

Mark and Jag were married in the town where I was born – in the hotel where I used to stay, as a little girl, with my family every Christmas time. I have very fond memories of The Old Hall Hotel in Buxton, and to see it pop into my inbox this week was pretty amazing.

Even more special is the wedding I have to share with you today. Mark and Jag chose to have an intimate celebration of their love with their closest family and friends. As today’s beautiful bride Jag says, this is…

“A wonderful, small wedding full of memories shared with people who meant the most to the bride and groom (parents, grandparents, siblings, best mates and that’s it). I wouldn’t have changed anything.”

It really is perfect. I must say a huge thank you to the lovely Lucy from Lucy West Images for sharing her photographs of Jag and Mark’s wedding in Buxton. It’s all about the love – a very special wedding day I’ve been looking forward to showing you!See more...

May 25th, 2020

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The English Wedding Blog is all about creativity: my dream is to curate an online space for couples to get inspired by real weddings, shoots and the latest in wedding design - with a real focus on English and UK weddings and suppliers.

I'm also known for writing calligraphy - for my work with Kirstie Allsopp and because I've worked with hundreds of brides and grooms. Beautiful writing is my passion and I'm happiest with a pen in my hand and ink on my face!

I live on the edge of the English Lake District, a couple of minutes from the seaside. I've lived in France and Italy, I ride a Vespa, I'm a cat person and I love dirty guitar bands, walking in the mountains, and my beach.